Joe Tippmann flashed in his rookie year with the New York Jets
It was nothing like the 2022 draft class, but the New York Jets still selected a promising rookie in 2023.
Second-round pick Joe Tippmann, the first center taken in the 2023 draft, was named to the PFWA All-Rookie team, per The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt.
Tippmann will perennially be judged against John Michael Schmitz, who was widely considered the top center prospect in the draft. The Jets selected Tippmann with the No. 43 overall pick, while Schmitz went at No. 57 to the crosstown rival New York Giants.
Tippmann significantly outperformed Schmitz in 2023 by every statistical measurement. His 3.5% pressure rate ranked 11th-best out of 33 qualified centers (min. 300 pass-blocking snaps). When adjusting for a league-average rate of true pass sets, Tippmann’s 2.3% pressure rate ranked seventh. Meanwhile, Schmitz ranked 32nd (6.2%) and 30th (4.8%) in those two categories.
Overall, Tippmann saved the Jets 3.3 pressures compared to what would have been expected of an average center, ranking 11th. This was despite having the 20th-most pass-blocking snaps among centers. Schmitz had -10.5 pressures saved, ranking 31st.
As a run-blocker, Tippmann’s 67.4 Pro Football Focus grade ranked 18th. Schmitz’s 51.3 grade ranked 31st.
In other words, Tippmann was an average to above-average center in his rookie season. Schmitz, meanwhile, has a lot of work to do in his second season. The early returns vindicate the Jets’ decision to select Tippmann over Schmitz.
The eye test backs up the statistics for both players. Tippmann had his struggles but mostly performed solidly even as the line crumbled around him. Schmitz struggled more often than not amidst an equally dreadful offensive line situation.
Although the run gets stuffed, it's no fault of Tippmann, who has a really nice reach block here. Crosses the DT's face, flips his hips, pins him to the back side. Crazy fast get-off out of his stance pic.twitter.com/Vpuyb8PBZH
— Michael Nania (@Michael_Nania) December 13, 2023
Another stuffed run where Tippmann looks great despite the mess elsewhere
Look how much movement he creates on the combo block. pic.twitter.com/0ZCHQePytZ
— Michael Nania (@Michael_Nania) December 13, 2023
Even as the Jets’ offensive line is in flux, they still have one piece added in the 2023 offseason who will help their line in 2024.
